Baseball, softball brackets released

And then there were eight.

After Thursday evening’s Class 3A West Valley League playoff games, four teams punched their tickets for the Class 3A state playoffs after McMinnville baseball, McMinnville softball, Yamhill-Carlton softball and Western Mennonite softball already secured their playoff berths.

Dayton softball, the WVL champion in regular-season play, dispatched Colton, 6-0, to cement its position atop the league and capture the No. 2 seed in Class 3A.

Willamina and Sheridan squared off Thursday evening in Willamina in a high-stakes game – winner makes the state playoffs, loser goes home for the season. In the end, the Bulldogs overpowered the Spartans, 12-0, in five innings to secure their berth.

Dayton baseball fell to Horizon Christian, 9-1, Thursday afternoon in Tualatin as the Hawks formally claimed the WVL championship. The Pirates lost both games of a doubleheader against Class 2A Regis, 12-2 and 5-1, their final regular-season contests.

Amity baseball heated up at the right time. The Warriors carry a six-game winning streak into the 3A state baseball playoffs, most recently upsetting Gervais, 1-0, for a playoff berth. Amity carries a No. 16 seed.

Playoff action took place Monday and continues Wednesday and Friday at various sites across the state. Please consult the schedule below.